Emma Was Blamed for Breaking Grandma Margaret’s Vase — Then the Pet Camera Revealed What Really Knocked It Over
Chapter 7 — The Offer
Richard requested a private meeting.
Margaret agreed only if Claire and the attorney attended.
Richard arrived carrying a folder.
He looked older than Margaret remembered.
And more frightened.
“I didn’t forge anything,” he said immediately.
Margaret nodded.
“I didn’t say you did.”
Richard explained that Thomas confessed parts of the story near the end of his life.
He claimed Eleanor had verbally agreed to sell Arthur’s share.
But she refused to sign the final documents.
Thomas believed she would eventually change her mind.
He moved ahead anyway.
“With a forged signature?” Claire asked.
Richard looked down.
“That’s what my father implied.”
Margaret stared at him.
“And you did nothing.”
“I was already running the company by then.”
“Exactly.”
Richard opened his folder.
Inside was a settlement proposal.
Two million dollars.
In exchange for Margaret dropping any claim to River House.
Claire almost laughed.
“You haven’t even seen all the documents.”
Richard looked at her.
“I know enough.”
That answer mattered.
He was offering millions before seeing the full evidence.
Margaret closed the folder.
“No.”
Richard leaned forward.
“Margaret, this could destroy both families.”
She looked at him calmly.
“The truth doesn’t destroy what was honest.”
Richard left without another word.
That evening, someone tried to enter Margaret’s house.
